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Hi Ninjalady Thanks for all your help I will give the veterans uk website a go.

Graham

Have you considered applying for Francis' military records? That will give you the place of birth, next of kin and may give you all sorts of other interesting information about him.

As you have his rank, number and regiment from the marriage certificate you could go to the Veterans UK website and download a form to fill out to make the application. We've just applied for my Grandfather's military records from World War 2. We didn't have to pay anything as my Grandmother is still alive (90 last month - bless her) and there is no charge for applications made by the spouse. For all other applications the cost is £30.00 but may be money well spent if you can finally pin your guy down.

Hi christine got the marriage of Francis Gordon born abt 1826 married Alice Jane Percival 1863, they had a son Francis George born 1864 I though this may have been the father of the Francis Gordon 1893 but i cant find any record of Francis George [1864] after 1891. His father was a farmer they lived in Thornhaugh Northamptonshire.

On the 1891 census there is a Francis Gordon born in Scotland boarding in Wandsworth - could this be where the Scotland bit comes in? Was Francis snr born in Scotland and not Francis jnr?

1891 England Census
about Francis Gordon
Name: Francis Gordon
Age: 23
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1868
Relation: Boarder
Gender: Male
Where born: Scotland

Civil Parish: Battersea
Ecclesiastical parish: St Phillips
County/Island: London
Country: England

Street address:

Occupation:

Condition as to marriage:

Education:

Employment status: View Image

Registration district: Wandsworth
Sub registration district: East Battersea
ED, institution, or vessel: 20
Neighbors: View others on page
Household Members: Name Age
Alfred C Taylor 27
Alma J Taylor 24
Alma A Taylor 2
Ethel Taylor 6/12
Robert J Smith 14
Melinda Smith 15
Francis Gordon 23

Could this Francis have married a sister to Robert and Melinda Smith?

Marriages Jun 1891 (>99%)
Gordon Francis Wandsworth 1d 804
Smith Clarinda Wandsworth 1d 804

You're welcome Graham

Plumstead and Woolwich were both in kent as was Bromley.

Francis married to Alice

Marriages Dec 1863 (>99%)
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Gordon Francis Stamford 7a 643

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Marriages Jun 1904 (>99%)
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Gordon Francis Reginald Stroud 6a 810

I had that problem too Christine.

The military record is very badly damaged and I assumed place of birth was Sevenoaks as it asks what parish - it may very well be his home town.

There is nothing against the question 'town you were born' but it does say Kent against the county.

This is why I assumed it was asking about place of birth.

The address given at time of enlistment/re-enlistment is 37 ? Square, London W.

If Francis Gordon was in the army just as a wartime occupation would he have been discharged by the time of the marriage to Annie Hickman in 1919?

Ive got the same military records,only on my marriage cert he was a company sergent major and the service number is different . I am assuming Alice as his next of kin was his mother as he was not married until October 1919 I can find no record of Alice being married to his father francis who was a farmer

looks like another birth at about the time of the marriage.

Births Dec 1919 (>99%)

Gordon Francis R Hickman Bromley 2a 1038

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Marriages Dec 1919 (>99%)
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Gordon Francis Hickman Bromley 2a 1445

Unable to find Francis Gordon born Sevenoaks on freebmd

Just a supposition here Graham and I may be way off base - the occupation given on the enlistment papers for the Francis Gordon below is Ford driver. As he was in the Royal Army Service Corps he would probably have knowledge of mechanics.

If he were AWOL he may have taken another job as a motor mechanic and may be 'hiding' in Coventry.

I do not understand. Are you saying the birth I found id the right one. In that case how is she formerly annie buttery.

Marriages Dec 1919 (>99%)
Gordon Francis Hickman Bromley 2a 1445
Hickman Annie C Gordon Bromley 2a 1445

Yes this was just wartime occupation In 1920 occupation is a motor mechanic this is on birth cert of son Edwin and living 141 colony cottages coventry.

Hi Christine yes thats the right one

There are military records for a Francis Gordon aged 26, born Sevenoaks Kent about 1893, enlisted on 7th July 1919 to the Royal Army Service Corps, but this may be a re-enlistment as the top is burned off.

Next of kin is given as Alice Gordon - the relationship part looks like it has been burned but it could be an M or W at the start - of Hartlands Road, Sevenoaks, Kent.

Looks like he was discharged 28th April 1921 for misconduct.

Seems he was with the North Russia Relief Force and deserted between 10.10.1919 and 09.03.1921!!!! Seems he got off HMS Shleswig having being told he was going to Winchester but as he hadn't got any orders he went home instead.

Was this just a wartime occupation?
Or did he continue after The war?

Hi. He was in the royal army service corps [ mechanical transport ] His address was 35 martins road Bromley Kent
From Graham

I can't find Annie Claire born in Bromley. Is this her?

Births Dec 1896 (>99%)
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Hickman Annie Claire Wolverhampton. 6b 578

There are 2 people on this site who have one born Scotland

Francis 1895 GLASGOW Lanarkshire Scotland No Brian Find out more
Francis 1895 of, Cairness, Aberdeenshire, Scotland No Michael

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